Lose the Lawn: Before and After in Santa Monica, CA

Seasonal fog and a thirsty lawn kept this beach cottage in Santa Monica feeling damp and dreary. Garden designer Susanne Jett of Jettscapes Landscape brought in the cheer by laying down a crisp layer of decomposed granite and planting a showy—yet low-water—border that birds love as much as the homeowner does.

VisitorsThe homeowner chose California natives such as Ribes and toyon specifically toprovide berries for birds. “She has a blackboard attached to the house where she keeps track of all the birds, when they come, and what plants they feed on,” says Jett.

HardscapingA large swath of decomposed granite stays dry and reflects light. Jett repositioned the flagstone pavers that were already in the yard to create a new path that meanders loosely to the front door.